Skull of Catholic Saint May Be Exhumed 500 Years Later Under Church Plan
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The skull of St. Thomas More, a prominent Catholic saint beheaded in 1535, may soon be exhumed from its centuries-old resting place at St. Dunstan's Church in Canterbury, England.
Churchwarden Sue Palmer, speaking on behalf of St. Dunstan's Parochial Church Council (PCC), said the church is considering the exhumation as a unique opportunity for ecumenical outreach and cooperation with the Catholic Church, the Catholic News Agency reported.
"It is unusual to have any relics in an Anglican church, especially those of a Catholic saint, and the PCC views this as an opportunity for ecumenical outreach and cooperation," Palmer said.
Why It Matters
The planned exhumation, which would coincide with the 500th anniversary of More's martyrdom, marks a significant moment for both Catholics and Anglicans, reflecting centuries of complex religious history in England. More, recognized as a martyr by the Catholic Church, became a symbol of conscience and steadfast faith.
The proposal to exhume his skull five centuries after his execution is intended to honor his legacy and respond to growing calls for increased accessibility and preservation of the relic.
File photo of a statue of Christ at St. Marienthal Abbey during an open day in Ostritz, Germany, taken in April 2018.
File photo of a statue of Christ at St. Marienthal Abbey during an open day in Ostritz, Germany, taken in April 2018.
AP
What To Know
After King Henry VIII ordered for More to be executed, his head was placed on London Bridge before being retrieved by his daughter, Margaret Roper, and eventually interred in the Roper family vault at St. Dunstan's Church. The church has received visitors and pilgrims for decades who venerate the saint's faith.
On July 6, 2025—the 490th anniversary of More's death—St. Dunstan's Church announced that it was considering exhuming the remains "subject to all the right permissions being granted."
The process would include conservation of the relic, consulting specialists in osteoarchaeology, and consideration of placing the skull in a secure reliquary or shrine above ground in the Roper chapel.
The skull, last documented in 1997, is believed to remain in the vault, although its precise condition is not fully known.
Who Was St. Thomas More?
St. Thomas More (1478–1535) served as Lord Chancellor of England under King Henry VIII. A renowned scholar and author of Utopia, he was executed for refusing to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the Church of England, remaining steadfast in his Catholic faith.
Canonized by the Vatican in 1935, More is revered as a martyr and the Patron Saint of Statesmen and Politicians. He is celebrated widely for his conscience, courage, and commitment to his principles, famously declaring before his execution: "I die the king's good servant, but God's first."
Who People Are Saying
The parish council said in a statement: "What the PCC has agreed, subject to all the right permissions being granted, is to exhume and conserve what remains of the relic, which will take several years to dry out and stabilize...We could just put it back in the vault, maybe in a reliquary of some kind, or we could place the reliquary in some sort of shrine or carved stone pillar above ground in the Roper chapel, which is what many of our visitors have requested."
St. Dunstan's Church said in a statement: "The 500th anniversary of More's death is going to throw the spotlight on us and our church as a center of worship, pilgrimage, education, and hospitality because the head is the only remaining relic of Thomas More — his body is somewhere in St. Peter ad Vincula in the Tower of London, but it is not possible to determine precisely where, so St. Dunstan's Church is really important and the focus in 10 years' time will very definitely be on us."
"We won't be able to keep him to ourselves — ecumenically and globally we have a responsibility both to the relic and to Christians and scholars throughout the world, and judging by the comments in our visitors' book, having the relic deteriorating in a vault is not good enough for many who venerate Thomas More."
What Happens Next
St. Dunstan's Church intends to consult with specialists, including osteoarchaeologists, and submit a formal application to the appropriate diocesan and commissary authorities.
Final approval is then required from the Commissary General, the equivalent of a diocesan judge. If granted, the conservation and enshrinement process could begin, with the goal to complete preparations in time for the 500th anniversary in 2035.
The church continues to serve as a pilgrimage site, and officials plan to keep the process respectful and collaborative, welcoming input from Catholics, Anglicans, and the international community.
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